Abstract

Demand to grow 5.3% annually through 2016

Demand for cast polymers in the US is forecast to increase 5.3 percent per
year to 248 million square feet in 2016. Gains will be driven by a sharp
rebound in housing completions from the depressed levels of 2011; however,
even by 2021 the number of new homes built will not reach the peak levels
achieved in 2006 before the downturn. The residential improvement and repair
segment will continue to account for the majority of cast polymer demand, thus
an upswing in US residential remodeling activity. Demand for cast polymers
will be further aided by a recovery in the nonresidential construction
spending market. Greater market penetration by cast polymers in place of more
traditional surfacing materials, such as laminates, will further benefit
demand. In most applications, cast polymers offer low maintenance requirements
as well as resistance to stains, moisture, impact and other damage caused by
wear and tear.

Engineered stone to exhibit fastest cast polymer gains

Engineered stone is expected to post the most rapid advances in cast polymer
demand through 2016. Residential consumers will continue to be attracted to
the material because of its performance advantages and because it is designed
to resemble high-end natural stone but with more color options and greater
durability. Engineered stone demand in the nonresidential building
construction market will be supported by specifiers seeking materials
materials that are impervious to biological contaminants and requiring minimal
maintenance.

Solid surface materials to remain dominant

Solid surface materials will continue to account for the largest share of cast
polymer demand, with 41 percent of the total market in 2016. While solid
surface benefits from cost advantages, increased competition from natural
stone and engineered stone will limit gains. Many consumers perceive stone as
superior in performance and aesthetics over solid surface. Demand for
gel-coated composites (e.g., cultured marble) will be supported by their
rising use in nonresidential building construction applications. Gains will
also be driven by trends in residential bathrooms (a greater number and more
elaborate designs), an area where gel-coated composites are most frequently
applied.

New housing segment to provide most rapid growth

The countertop market will account for 86 percent of cast polymer demand in
2016. The new housing segment will provide the most rapid gains, as housing
completions rebound and builders looking to make homes more marketable
increasingly choose cast polymer countertops instead of laminates or tile.
Nevertheless, the residential improvement and repair segment will continue to
account for the majority of cast polymer countertop demand. Designs that call
for larger kitchens and multiple bathrooms will also promote demand. In
nonresidential countertop applications, solid surface materials will make
gains in institutional settings, such as hospitals and schools, because these
materials offer resistance to biological contamination.

Study coverage

Details on these and other findings are contained in the upcoming Freedonia
industry study, Solid Surface & Other Cast Polymer Materials, presents
historical demand data for the years 2001, 2006 and 2011, plus forecasts for
2016 and 2021 by material, product, end use, and geographic region of the US.
The study also assesses market environment factors, evaluates company market
share and profiles competitors in the US industry.